Can-soldering machine.



PATBNTBD PEB. 5, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. 0. H. WALSH. GAN SOLDBRING MACHINE.

APPLIoATIoN FILED SEPT. 12. 1904.

PAT-BNTBD FEB. 5, 1907.

H. C. H. WALSH.

CAN SOLDERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12, 1904.

` a SHEETS-SHEET z.

ms: Illu! PATENTED FEB. 5, 1907. H. C. H. WALSH. I CAN SOLDERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12. 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

*HARRY c.' WALSH, or CHICAGO,

i FINI. 842,926.

ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORTO CONSOLIDATED PRESS AND TOOL COMPANY,1' A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

lCAN-SOLDEFHNC- MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 5.1907.

i Application filed September 12, 1904. Serial No. E24-.174.

To n/ZZ whom it may concer/z,.-

Be it known that I, HARRY C. H. WALSH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements Can-Soldering Machines, of which the .following4 is a specification, reference being-had tothe accompanying drawings, formv-hls mvention relates to means for solder- 'the longitudinal seams of can-bodies, and designed as substantially a part of my imloved can-body-seaming machine described 'ixflimy'application for Letters Patent of the same, Serlal No. 224,176, filed September 12, 1904.

The present invention consists of the features of construction which are set out inthe claims. v

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the discharge-end portion of the seaming-machine in .coniunction withv the mechanism continuing therefrom constituting the soldering-machine. Fig. 2 is a section at the line '2 2 on'Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail plan, on a larger scale than the preceding iigures, of the initial portion of the supports and feeding mechanism bv which the can-bodies are advanced to the soldering apparatus. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 5 is a section atlthe line 5 5 on Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a plan view ofthe solder-applying devices,

Fig. 7 is a section at the line 7 7 on Fig. 6.

The body-seaming machine to which this soldering apparatus 1s appurtenant and of which it constitutes a continuation and syn-I chronously with ythe seam-formingparts of kwhich it is operated comprises, as more fully shown in my said application Serial -No. 224,176, a horn onto which the body is advanced and on which it is held for interlocking and clenching the seam, and said machine has a longitudinally-reciprocating bar for feeding the lblanks which are to form the can-bodies and the can-bodies whenformed with step-by-step movement through the several mechanisms by which the blanks are manipulated in forming the bodies.l A This horn comprises a rigid metal part 1, and the soldering-machine herein shown comprises a skeleton support for the dan-bodies, consisting of arallel bars suitably'framed together exten( ing rigidly onward from saidmiddle or fixed portion 1 of the horn.` 'The frameworkfcomprising these bars vand their connecting-spiders is hereinafter referred to collectively as they can-track7 ,or can-support. As shown, this can-track consists of four parallel longitudinal bars 2 3 4 5, connected together at suitableintervals by s iders 6, the entire track being sup orted by connection of the bars at one en with the fixed element 1 of the horn and throughout the onwardly-projecting extent by the canfeeding devices which arev hereinafter described. For the purpose of the soldering feed mechanism is provided for continuing the advance of the cans step by step from' the horn past the several soldering devices, keeping them spaced on the can-track as during the progress throughthe seaming-machine, the feed movement being derived from the same reciprocating feed-bar by which the step movements through the seaming-machine are performed, said bar being continued'beyond the horn into range of the soldering-machine, so that the two machines are organized practically as a unitary structure, their movements being synchronous and certain parts of one continuing into the other.

7 is the feed-bar both of the seeming-machine and of the soldering-machine. This feed-bar projects about four feed-step lengths beyond the horn and has rigidly secured to it a cross-head or yoke 8, which extends up at both sides of the can-path'for connection with the spring-pressed feed arms or pawls 9 9.J The form of' these arms and their connection is shown in Fig. 3. Each of them is pivoted for horizontal oscillation to a fitting 10, having a threaded stem 10a, adjustablyy secured in one arm ofthe cross-head or yoke 8, a spring 1 1 vbeing provided for reacting between the two pivoted parts to hold the forward end of the pawl or feed-arm 9 inward for gripping the can-bodies, as seen in Fig. 3.

12 represents a screw forl adjusting the tension of the spring 11 in a manner which will be understood from the drawings.

The pivoted ends of the feed pawls or arms 9 are spread sufficiently to admit a can-body of the largest dimension for which the machine is designed., and the springs are adapted to hold their forward ends inward, so that they will reach and engage a can-body of any less dimension which may be on the horn.

.The feed-bar 7 is also provided with feed- ICO awls 13 13,13, mounted at intervals in its ength `equal to the feed step and held yieldingly protru'ded by sprin s 13 in position to engage the lower edge o `the can-bodies on the jean-track between the hornand the endlless feed mechanism hereinafter described.

As illustrated, this interval is equal to four feed steps, so that four can-bodies are engaged and fed by these pawls 13 at each re- "ciprocation of the feedfbar, the first of the V four being brought into reach of the first.

pawl 13 by the feed arms or pawls 9 takingthey body off the horn and the'last of them delivering'the body with which it is engaged in position to be engaged at the next stepmovement by jthe notched terminals of a forked awl 16, which is pivoted to the end of lthe, eed-bar. 7 about Aone `step length be- .yondthe cross-headsB and is held up, b y lmeans of a 'spring-15a, intoposition for 'en-1 aging the can-bodies at the lower edge.: he reason for the substitutionof this forked pawl for the dogs 13 to feed .the cans finally 4intoreach of the endless conveyer will 1ap` .pear from' the further description of the lat` ter.v Toaccolnmodate the protrudin 4 noses of the pawls 13 13, the lower bar 5 of t e canneled slightly, as shown at 3a.

suitable'ehannel at 2, (also seen in Fig. 5,) and the en agement of theseam in the channel keeps't e can-bodyin the proper position for exposingthe outerside of the same at the` right positionfor deposit of thesolder thereon. For retaining the bodies at `their lsuc-- cessively-advanced positions retaining-pawls 1'5 15 ,similar to the pawls 13, are provided on the upper bar 2 of the canftrack. These pawls, however, need not be springactuated ut are oyerbal'anced, so as to` ave their noses thrown 1 1p`by gravity. For conveying the can-bodies'fu'rther' onward through the solderingxnachjne` there 1s provided an endless chain 17, having feed-.fingers .17a at intervals corresponding ,to the length ofthe the feed step. vThis chain travels around idlers 18v and A 19, mounted on a fra-Ine which comprises standards 20 20 and longitudinal rails 21 21. A, shaft 22.fjournaled lon the forward standard 20 and having additional support in a standard 20,- has a Wheel 23,

driven by a chain 24, deriving power from a sprocketepinion 2 5 onra shaft 26 of the seaming-machine. 'On the shaft 22 there is' piv-- naled a ear 28,*which meshes with a gear 29v oted a gear-frame 27 on which there' is jouron the s aft 22, and -rigidwithsaid gears 28 there is a sprocket-wheel'42,'which by means -of a chain 43 drives a sprocket-wheel 44,' also jinn'naled'I on the gear-frame 27 'at thejend thereof` remote from the shaft A22. Rigid with the wheel 32; there isa sprocket-wheel 45, which-engages the lower ply of the chain 17 being held 1n engagement therewith and adapted to take up the slack thereof .by

means ofa 'wei ht 46, pivotally suspended from thexed s aft or axle 47, on which the wheels'44 45 are journaled.4 By this means the' chain 17 is -given feed movement in proper direction, and its slack is taken up by thedrivingdevices., The feed-fingers `17a on the chain 17 extend between the longitudinal rails 21 21 and operate in the channel 5 of the bar 5 for engaging the can-bodies by their lower'edge to keep them in continuous movement along the can-track from the'time they are advanced by the forked pawl 16, strifiing the fingers 17?, into p'osition at the receiving end of the upper ply of the feed# .chain atwhich they may be encountered by the next following finger 1,7 as it rises' around the idler 18 at the forward end.v The lcantrack is supported by the lodgment lof the lower bar 5 o n the lips or marginal flanges 21a of the'longit'udinal top rails 2 1 21 of the endless-conveyer frame, and when the can-bodies are on the can-track they readily assover i these lips, becoming thus the immeciatesup# port of .the can-track-by resting on'said lips.

At any convenient"point beyond the'l horn there is located a vdevice for applying any suitable fiux. to the vlongitudnalseam of the-canbody which lies exposed `upwardly. As illustrated, this comprises .a rotary wiper 48 in contact at its lower edge with theseam and supplied with suitable'liquid'flux dropping IQO onto it from 4the receptacle 49. Ata .posiend ofthe endless carrier-chain 17 therey is located theffsolder-applying devices. These devices comprise a solder tank or reservoir 30,

*tion conveniently onward from the recelving havin gas-jets 31 31 mounted. underneath it for eatin it, and the solder-discharge nozzle 32, 'whic is mounted at one vend of` the tank 3Q and controlled by a needle. or taper' pointed valve 33. The tank 30 is .preferably subdivided by partitions 34 into any desired number of chambers, of which the first chamber 36 has anopening 35 at the top for insertion of the solder in solid form; As villustrated, the opening 35 is designedV to admit a stick or wire of solder which may thus continuously su ply the consumption. The

several `cham ers communicate with..,ea`cl1 other successively by apertures 37 through ythe partitions 34 at the lower part thereof.

The purpose and result of this construction is that the `dross accumulating upon the top of thafinolten solder in the first chamber 36 isV .largely plrevente Ifrom passingon intoI the,

second amber 6, and any limited amount of 'dross .thatmay thus pass into the second chamber tending to rise tojthe surface of the' molten solder in tl? at chamber is thereby pre4 vented' from passing into the`third chamb 1 IAS 36h, and so on toiwhatever number of chambers' it may be necessary to provide to cause the solder inally to be delivered from the last chamber free of dross. From said final chamber (represented by 36h) there is a discharge-passage 37, leading from the bottom and trending upward to a height intended to be the low li uid-level of the lsolder-chambersthat is, height up to which the solder will be maintained 1n said chambers. At the highest point of the discharge-duct 37 it opens into the chamber of the 'valve 33, around which the solder may pass for discharge past the end of the valve through the nozzle 32 which discharges overhanging the longitudinal seam of the can-bodies as they are advanced continuously along the can-track by i the eontinuouslytravelin feed-chain 17. 1t

will be understood that t e valve 33 passes through threaded bearing and stuing-box at the upper end of its chamber, so th at it may be set to control the discharge of molten solder from the nozzle to make the continuous 'filament o such solder so delivered of suitable diameter to be adequate 'for securingthe seam when sweated thereinto, as provided by the means hereinafter described. For .insuring continuous delivery of a sufficientlyslender solder filament without liability of' breaking into drops or glubules adequate pressure must be maintained upon the solder to Vcause the discharge from thenozzle to be more rapid than its descent bygravity after disch ar e. This result mightbe accomplish ed by having the solder-supply elevated above the disch arge sufficiently to afford ahead for adequate pressure, and to some extent this mode of malntainin the discharge-pressure will be realized in t e structure shown, be-

cause the solder mayvstand in the chambers 36, 36, and 36b to a height sufficiently above the nozzle to aord .they necessary pressure.

, A more eflicient means, however, ofobtaining the pressure and one which in any event may supplement the pressure alorded by the in t e drawings, inwhich, at a oint in the discharge-duct 37 between the c amber 36b and the entrance to the valve-chamber there opens into said duct 37 a passage 38, which preferably joins the duct 37 at an acute angle-that is, so that the discharge from the duct 38 .is not directly transverse to, but extends onward toward the valve-chamber with respect te the duct-37.' The passage 38 back of its 'unction with the' duct 37 extends upwar y and is connected, as by a ipe '38, with. a source of compressed air.A 1li will be seen that when the valve 33 is closed the liquid solder will rise in' the passa e 38 to the height at which it stands in the c ambers 36, 36, and 36E unless there is pressure in the passage 38. A Also itwill -be seen that at first the space in the valve-chamber and terminal portion of the passage '37 above the bridge 39,

height of the solder in the'chambers is shownV which separates said passage at the further side Jfrom the valve-chamber, would be occupied byair; but in practice thisL air would soon all be forced out up to the level to which the solder would tend to rise to equal the level in the chambers. The valve 32 being opened and pressure being applied through the. pipe 38a, such pressure will operate to force the liquid solder out past the valve, the inertia of the mass of solder in the chambers andthe resistance to its mobility wh ich will be caused by th e restricted communication between the successive chambers tending to resist the movement backof the solder toward the chambers, so that practically the action whill'besubstantially as if there were a check-valve in the passage 37, closing toward'the chamber 36". The air-pressure will be maintained at such degree as may be found necessary to maintaincontinuity of a sufliciently slender stream of metal to lay an adequate filament of solder along the seam as the can-bodies move continuously past the nozzle, andthe nozzlepressure will therefore remain substantially constant throughout any changes in the height of the molten solder in the chambers, being governed by the air-pressure which will be greater than the maximum gravity-pressure of the solder.

The stream of metal being continuous and the cans being spaced at short intervals along the track, some metal will be discharged through the gaps between the canbodies, and to receive it there is provided Within the four 'bars constituting the `cantrack at a oint underneath the nozzle a 'drip-eu 40, into which the solder will be dischargev at said intervals between the cans,7 the bar 2 having al suitable aperture 2b,

`through which the solder may pass.

At a convenient distance beyond the solderapplying devices above described there is located a sweating device for heating the seam and causing the solder filament deposited on it to flow into it. This is substantially 'a gas'- burner comprising a longitudinally-extended mixer l1 for supplying a suitable heating mixture of air and gas. Beyond the sweater 'the can-bodies are carried by the feed-chain 17 and delivered to any proper receptacle or conveyer. [(Not shown.)`

1. 'In asoldering-fmachine, in combination with means for carrying the body to be soldered with continuous movement to ex ose the line at which the solder is to be app ied; means for applying a flux at the line' to be soldered; a nozzle Adirected for discharge against the body at'such line; a source of molten solder communicating with the nozzle and means for mair'itaining pressure above the su ply of solder adequate for discharge ofthe atter through the nozzle in a jet for depositing a iilament of solder along said line, and means located beyond the nozzle forE IOO heating the body to re-fuse said solder fila` Y with means for advancing the object to be 5- soldered, a wiper in position for contact with said body as it is thus advanced and means for su plying flux to said wiper; a nozzle directedp for discharge against the body at the line of contact of the wiper therewith beyond the latter; a source of molten solder communicating with the nozzle and means for maintaining elastic-fiuid pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure above the solder-supply therein adequate for discharge of the solder in a jet` to deposit a filament of solder along the line of contact with the wiper, and means located beyond the nozzle for heating the body to re-use such solder element.

3. In combination with a can-track and means for advancing the can-bodies continuously along such .track with the seam to be soldered exposed; means for applying solder to the seam comprising a nozzle for deliveringa jet of molten solder located in position to discharge such jet onto the seam for forming v a filament or wire of such solder thereon; a source of molten solder for supplying the nozzle and means forr maintaining elastici'luid ressure in excess of atmospheric pressure a ove the solder-supply for forcing solder through the nozzle.

4. In combination with a can-track and .means for advancing the can-bodies continuously along such track, a solder-a plying device comprising a vvalve-nozzle directed for discharge onto the seam; a source of molten solder in position for maintaining the solder therein at a level above the nozzle for aiording gravity-pressure toward the latter; a 40 passage by which such-source communicates with the nozzle and a duct leading from a source of elastic-fluid ressure for communicating such pressure a ove the surface of the solder-supply for adding such elastic-fluid pressure to the gravity-pressure of the solder toward the nozzle.

5. In a can-soldering machine, in combina- "tion with means for delivering a jet of molten solder, means for moving the can to expose its seam to such jet; a solder-reservoir comprising a plurality of .chambers communicating with each other successively at thelower part, and means for heating the chambers.

6. In a soldering-machine, in combination with means carrying the body to be soldered to expose past one point the line at. which solder is to be a plied means for depositing the solder in a ament along such line, comprising a solder-reservoir, a discharge-nozzle, a passage leading from the bottom of the reservoir upward and onward to such discharge-nozzle, means for maintaining elasticfluidpressure in excess of'atmospheric pressure, and a assage leading from the source of such fluic -pressure into the upper side of the above-mentioned passage for communieating such pressure to the solder in the latter.

^ 7. In a soldering-machine, in combination with a nozzle for delivering a jet of solder; a solder-reservoir comprising a plurality of chambers communicating with each other successively at the lower part, the last of said chambers having communication with the nozzle and the first having an opening through which the solder-supply may be maintained and means for heating the chambers.

8. In a can-soldering machine, in combination with means for delivering a jet of molten solder, means for moving the can to expose it to such jet; a solder-reservoir comprlsing a plurality of chambers cornmunicatlngwith each other successively at the lower part and means for heating the chambers.

9. In a soldering-machine, in combination witha nozzle for delivering a jet of solder, a solder-reservoir and vmeans for heating it; a

a valve for controlling the no'zzles discharge having its chamber forming part of the duct of communication from the solder-reservoir to the nozzle, said duct leading from the lower part of the reservoir upward for connection .with the valve-chamber, and a passage leading into said solder-duct trending forward at its communication therewith, and downward to said forwardly-trending portion, and-connections from a source of elastic-Huid pressure to said passage.

' In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two witnesses, at Chicago, Illinois, this 31st day of August, 1904.

HARRY o. H. WALSH.

.duct leading from the reservoir to the nozzle; 

